LSD bust nets Maui couple
Federal agents arrest two others and seize 20 grams in California
A Maui couple is in federal custody in California after they were arrested in a large-scale LSD distribution operation in the Bay Area.
Agents from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration arrested David Behar, 33, and Lindsay Hogue, 30, of Paia, Friday in Santa Cruz. They remain in custody without the opportunity for bail pending their detention hearings tomorrow.
DEA agents also arrested two Bay Area residents, Tara Bergstrand, 25, and John Lagace, 35, of Watsonville. Bergstrand's detention hearing is scheduled for today. Lagace's is tomorrow.
Agents seized about 20 grams of LSD -- enough for some 200,000 doses, according to the DEA. The DEA estimated the street value of the drugs at $2 million.
The DEA has not seen LSD in the Bay Area for a while, said Special Agent in Charge Javier Pena, but the size of the seizure proves there is still a market for it.
"This alarming amount, for instance, could provide every citizen of Watsonville with four doses each," Pena said in a written release.
LSD is present in Honolulu but is not one of the more prevalent illegal drugs on Oahu, said Capt. Frank Fujii, Honolulu Police Department spokesman.
The drug also is present on Maui but is not the most popular nor the most prevalent, said Deputy Police Chief Gary Yabuta of the Maui Police Department.
The DEA also seized 5 pounds of marijuana, nine gold coins, three silver bars, $6,000 in cash and a suspected hash conversion laboratory from a Watsonville home.
The investigation started last month when agents from the DEA's San Jose office learned of a person, identified as Behar, who was allegedly distributing LSD. Undercover agents were introduced to Behar and Hogue on Thursday, at which time Behar agreed to sell the agents 5 grams of LSD in crystal form, according to a federal court document.
After a brief meeting, Behar went to a residence in Watsonville and showed up at a prearranged location in Santa Cruz, where agents arrested him and Hogue. At the time of her arrest, Hogue had $5,500 cash in her purse, the document said.
Agents also kept watch on the Watsonville home and arrested Bergstrand and Lagace after they left the residence. Bergstrand had $900 and Lagace had $1,300. According to the court document, agents also seized records from their vehicle indicating transactions of between $2,500 and $11,200. They found more cash and the marijuana, gold coins and silver bars in a safe in the home's master bedroom.